Method of printing names on cards



Feh. Z4, 1%4& c, FREUND METHOD OF PRINTING NAMES ON CARDS Filed April 11, L946 2 Sheets-Sheec 2 Patented Feb. 24, 1948 METHOD OF PRINTING NAMES -ON CARDS Clarence H. Freund, Wilmette, Ill. assignor 'to Clarence H. Freund, Irene Freund, John W. Walz, and Agnes Loretta Walz, copart-ners, doing business as Nu-Art Engraving Company,

Chicago, III.

Application April 11, 1946, Serial N0. 661,265

The invention relates to printing generally and more particularly 130 the printing of names or other da-ta on previously printed cards or sheets.

Certain types 0f printed items such as advertising folders calendars, greeting cards etc. .are commonly distributed in relatively small lots, each of which has a different name or other data printed thereon. As most of the printed matter on such items is the same, the items are usually produced in large quantities and the individual data 01 name lines for each lot are printed thereon in a separate operation. With the printing equipment heretofore available this procedure necessitates changing the setup of the press for .each lot, thereby substantially decreasing the productive capacity of the press wh-ich together with the additional labor involved materially increasesproduction costs.

As it is usually necessary to print the individua1 names or data at definite locations on the previously printed item a further difficulty is encountered where items of difierent sizes or having different arrangements of printed matter are involved. Thus the printing of name lines on greeting cards presents a particularly complicated pro b1em as such cards are commonly produced in varied sizes and with widely different arrangements of the printed matter and designs. This of course, necessitates a change in the location of the name for each size of card. In accordance with present practice a complete change of the press setup is made for each 1ot of cards and the cost .of the cards is correspondinely increased.

With the foregoing in view, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for setting up a press to print name lines on cards or the like .by which the difiiculties above mentioned are eliminated, thus enabling sma1l lots of cards or sheets of varied sizes and makeups to be printed rapidly and at relatively 10W cost.

A more specific object is to provide an improved method cf and apparatus by which the setup of the press may be changed .to accommodate cards or sheets of different sizes and widely varying makeups with a minimum of manual labor and with little loss of time, thus increasing the productive capacity cf the press and substantialiy r.educing the labor costs f the printing operation.

Another object is to provide an improved chase assembly for printing presses which greatly facilitates the changing and accurate location 4 Claims. (C1. 101-426) 2 of thetype used in printing name lines or other data on previously printed cards or sheets.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following deta'i1ed description of the preferred embodiment iliustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a printing press equipped With a chase assembly adapte. to be set up for printing names or the 'li-ke on previously printed cards in accordance With the improved method contemplated by the present invention.

Fig. .2 is a fragmentary view of the chase assemb1y.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fi1ler for use in .carryinz out the improvecl method.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a clamping device for retaining a type slug in set position in a chase of the type shovvn in Fig. 2.

.Fig. 5 is a .diagrammatic view showing the manner in which sheets of different sizes and ha-ving different makeups are presented to the .chase for printing.

While the invention is susceptible cf various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I d0 not theneby .i-ntend to limit the inv.ention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modi-fications .and alternative constructions falling Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

T0 iliustrate the invention, I have shown in Fig. 1 of the dravving-s the essenti-al elements 01 a conventional vertical job press set up for printing individual names on greeting cards. Bresses of this type are equipped with a vertically reciprocable bed to which a :rectangular type holding frame or chase 10 is secured in any suitable manner for reciprocation with the bed. cards to be .printed are presented to the chase by a rotatably driven cylinder II which receives the cards from the usual feed board I2. In the particular press shown, the cards are de'1ivered to the feed board automatically by a pneumatic picke'r I3 =-which is oscillated in weil known manner in timed relation to the reciprocation of the pressbed. In each cycle of the bed the picker r.emoves a card from a stack I4 carried by a vertically shiftable feed table I5 and deposits the card on the fee d board l'2 fro-m which it ispidked up by the cylinder II for presentation to the chase. The table I ls automatically raised stepby-step as the cards are removed therefrom.

In order to locate the cards in proper relation 130 receive the imprint from the type carrled by the chaselll.a guide member I6 is provlded for cooperation with one slde edge cf the ca.rd es lt is deposited on the feed board I2. The guide member I6 is adjustably mounted on a horizontal rod I'I supported above the feed board I2 by a pair of crank arms I8 mountecl an I:he machine frame. guide rod I9 which in this instance has lts central portion 20 Offset laterally from theaxis of the rod to provide convenient access to the chase for reasons that will appear presently. Provision is made for rocklngthe pranl a 1 x n5 I3 in timed re1ation to the osclllation of the picker I3 130 enable the latter to deposit the cardsgn 1;l:ge feed board I2 withoutinterference. l

'Il1e table..l5 is likewlse provided with suitable guide n1embers 2I and.22 foslogating I}he card stack I4 with respecfi to the: feed board. The guide members as herein shown comprise angle bars extending vertically along the rear edge of the table anti adjustably supported at their W- er ends 011 the press frame. In pract icethe guide member 2I is normally secured in a fixed position as by a clamping holt 23 while manually operable means indicated generally ab 24 is provided for efiecting rapid adjustment of the guide 22 to accommodace cards of different lengths. In other words, the stop members I6 and 2I remain stationary during normal printing operations and thus provide a fixer]. reference point for the presentation of cards I;o the chase.

In carrying out the invention, the chase lll ls provided with furniture for the accommodation of standard linotype slugs 24 and arranged 110 permit quick interchange of the slugs and their accurate location in predetermined prlnting positions without requiring removal Qf thechase from the press o1 in any way disturbing the chase assembly. For I3his purpose a plurality ojr elatively thin, elongated fia.t bars 25 are arranged horizontally in I;he chase wit.h spacing elements 26 interposed between adjaeent bars. 'I'wo of the spacing elements 26 are providecl betw een each pair of the bars 25 and the elements are located adjacent opposite ends of the bars so as to form therewith a series of parallel slots 21 extending transversely acrpss I; he chas e. 8313icient bars are installed to provide the de'sird number of slots and the remainlng space of the chase is filled with conventional spacing elements 28 and the entire assembly Is lpcked in placeby suitable quoins or wedges 29.

The crank arms also carry the usual side In the exemplary chase assembll, the sblzirig elements 25 are of substantially the same thicknass as the type slugs 24, thus spacing the bais 25 apart so that the type s1ug may be easil:ii inserted in or removed from the slts 21. I'd brvide for varying the position of the typeslug transversely cf the chase the elements 25 are spaced apart a substantially greater distande than the length of the type s1ugs or, in other words, I;he s1ots 21 are made longer than the slugs.

Suitable means is provided for frictionally clamping the type slug in adjusted position in the slot in which lt is inserted. As herein shown 'ohe Clamping means comprises an elongated flat spring member 30 adapted to be lnserted in the s1oo adjacent the one containing the type s1ug.

opposlte dlrectlon adjacent opposite ends es shown in Fig. 4 so that when inserted in a sloI; 21 a substantial clamplng pressure is exerted on the bars definlng the slot. The ends of the spring membermay be notched tmpro vide projecting lugs 3I for engagement by a hook o1j other suitable too1 for c0nvenience in removlng the memher from the slot.

In setting up the printing appara.tus to print dlfierent names. o1 bther data, on small lots of cards er sheets of varied sizes anal makeup, an

gatecfl at riy dsirtd pos ition on a calrd b'y inserting tl le type slug in 2 sele'eted one 0f the slots and suil;ably adjustlng it lopgitgdinally therein. 11".ITQ f.'acillta te the zfwcurate loeation of the s1ug "lbi1gltll di nn llrhf the slfi in which it is iriserted,

a. sui table filler 33 is inseriqed in the slot in abutti ngrelatibnwith the typ egs lug and the vertieally alip'ed en d off the sl ot IIIn pra ctice t he printe set t ing up the press js s upplied with a.

blugalifgy of Such fill erslof pmgressively varjring length c0rresponding Io the spaci1gxgs required fcjr th e dliferenI: classes of cards to be printied Ref rk in lvlfi 3 1- h wi the fi1le r 3 3 init's preierred f orm comp rises a. flat generally rectangu laij platte 34 sliglltly 'lgl l inner t l in the lzyp'e slug2 so that lt will fitloosely in, any pr'ie of the slo ts 2'I. Ri2iglly secured to one edgia of th e platze 34an d extending ove r I;he same With spxlng me mloer 35 adpted 1:0 filct ionally engage the Walls of the slot in which t he filler isinserlzed t o holdit secu'rely in place Iqherein. The plate 34 T=W De formed wit h notqhes 36 at. ogposi te e1 1ds foi engagement by a spitable hook er tool f c u c.on venience in withdiravy i ng tl 1e filler frqrp the slot:

As explained above, the slots 2 I of the dhase assembly, are identified by suitableindi eia. The fillers33 likewisecarry suitable indicia as, for exambl'a, letters; each individual to a filler cf predetermined length Tq eoordinate this data for theus'e of the printer, each size or, type cf t:ard to be printed is ida'antified With a dual designation indicative pf the slot in- Which the type slug is be inselfted and' the filler to be used therewith whenthe card is printed.

' By way of example it will be assumed that small lots of cards areto be printed with individual names from each of three groups of cards A, B and C which differ from each other in size and makeup er both. The relative positions in whlch such cards are presented to the chase are shown dlagrammatically in Flg. 5, In the drawings the vertical llne X represents the reference point for the right:hand edges of the cards as determined by t he setting of the guide member I6. Vertical ll-ne Y represen ts th e reference points orabutinents at the"9.lined lefl; ends of the slots 21. The

5 particular cards illustrated are o! the type adapted to be tolded centrally as indicated by the broken line 40.

In order t'o locate the name in the desired relatlon to the bottom edge of the card A, the type slug must be inserted in the s1ot 8. F01 centerlng the name, a filler cf a particular length is required whlch may be conveniently deslmated as filler D. Accordingly the designation D8 applied to this card will give the prlnter all information necessary to set up the press for the proper prlnt- Ing of the names on carcls A.

The card B as shown 1s substantlally shorter am! wider than the card A and the spacing of the name from the bottom is substantially greater. 'Ihis card may be ldentified by the reference characters E5 incllcatlng that the type slug is to be lnserted in the slot 5 along with a filler E. Likewlse card C may be identified by the characters F7 to indicate that a type slug is to be inserted in the slot 1 along with a filler F. Thus a suitably deslgnated. filler 33 ls provlded for and coordinated with a card of each s12e so tha.t the printer may position the type slug accurately wlthout loss of time and with little effort. As the order is made up for each lot of cards, it may be suitably marked wlth the necessary identifying data so that no calculations by the prlnter are required and idle press tirne is reduced to a minimum.

In actual practice, cards of a single size are usually printed successively so that the only changes necessary between lots 013 cards of such size is a 'change of the type slug bearlng the name to be printed thereon. Thus, as each order is received, the printer notes the designation, places the proper filler in the proper slot along with the name slug, and places the required number of cards on the feed table of the press. Upon completion of the run, the type slug ls interchanged with a s1ug suitable for the next tun, and printing may proceed. When the size of the card is changed, the filler 33 is interchanged with one of the proper dimensions and printing proceeds as before explained. The only press adjustment required by a change of card sizes is a shiftlng of the guide member 22 which does not in any way afiect the delivery of the sheets to the press as this is determined by the location of the fixed guldes I6 and 2l.

Where more than one llne of prlnted matter is to be applled to a carcl as, for example, a plurality of names or a name and address, the type slugs are inserted in successive slots one above the other along with the proper fillers. The necessary instructions may be given the printer f0r this purpose by a sultable deslgnation utlllzing the indicla above described.

It Will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides an improved method and apparatus for setting up printing apparatus to print names 0n cards m sheets of varied sizes whlch practically eliminates idle press time and which maberially reduces the labor involved in changing the press setup. Due to the novel construction and arrangement of chase assembly, all necessary changes may be made witlrout necessitatll'l removal of the chase from the press. Moreover accurate location of l;he type for determlning the position of the printed matter ls greatly facllitated. Small lots of cards or sheets may thus be printed economlcally and ab a. rapid rate.

I claim 8.S my invention:

1. The method 017 setting up apparatus for printing difierent name lines or other matter on a plurallty of groups of cards of varied sizes from type slugs indivldual to the respective groups which comprises, assembling a chase to provide a. plurality of vertically alined spaced parallel slots adapted to receive the type slugs, identifying each s1ot with distinctive lndicia, preparing a series of fillers of progressively varying length fio-r insertion in said slots wlth a type S1ug 10 determine the position of the slug in the slot, ldentifying each of sald fillers with distinctive indioia, and identifying each group of cards with dual indicia indicatlve cf the particular filler to be used when prlnting the cards 0f that group and the particular slot in which the filler and the type slug are to be inserted. for such printing.

2. The method of setting up apparatus for printing a line 0f matter in selected positlons on each card of a plurality of groups of cards cf different sizes and makeups which comprises, preparing an individual type slug for each group of cards, assembling a chase provide a plurality of spaced parallel slots f=or the reception of the type slugs, identifyin each s1ot with indicia C01- responding to the posltion on a card at which a type slug therein will print on a card presented to the chase in a predetermined position, providing a. series o1 fillers of progressively Varying length, and identlfylng each filler with a articular s1ze of card wlth which lt is 170 be used to center the type slug with respect to the card. when presented in sa1d predetermined position.

3. The method of printing name llnes or the like in selected positlons on cards of difierent sizes whlch comprlses arranging the furniture in a chase to provide a plurality of vertically spaced parallel s1ots adapted for receiving type slugs together wltn fillers of varlous lengths interposed between the slugs and said ends of the slots, designatlng each slot and each filler with dlstinctlve lndicia, -and identifying each size of card with dual indlcla. indicating the particular s1ot and filler to be used in rlnting the name line an the card whereby to facilitate the selection of the slot anal filler.

4. The method =of prlnting a line such as a name 1ine on a. greetlng card or the like which comprises arranging the furniture in a chase to provlde a plurality of spaced parallel slots terminating a1: one end in a common lane and adapted for receiving type slugs toeether with fillers of various lengths interposed between the slue's and. said ends of the slots, designating the slots accordlng tqthelr positions vertically in the, chase and the fillers according to their lengths, and identifying each card be printed with a predetermined one o1 the slots and a predetermined one 0f the fillers whereby 1;0 facilitate selection of the proper slot receive the type slug and of the filler determlning the transverse spacing cf the slug.

CLARENCE H. FREUND.

REFERENCES CITED The followlng references are of record. in the file of thls patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 92,657 Schmidt et a1 July 13, 1869 1,052,678 Loveland et a1 Feb. 11, 1913 2,251227 Kohnle July 29, 1941 

